The obelisk is the earliest surviving public monument of Australia`s colonisation. It is supposedly erected on the site where Governor Phillip raised the Union Jack in 1788.

Designed by Francis Greenway and erected in Macquarie Place on Bridge Street, Sydney in 1818, the large sandstone structure functioned as the zero point for the measurement of early roads in New South Wales. The obelisk was instrumental as a surveying device used for Sydney`s earliest roads as part of the Governor and Mrs Macquarie`s civic improvements.

Details

Dedication

THIS OBELISK
WAS ERECTED IN
MACQUARIE PLACE
A.D.1818
TO RECORD THAT ALL THE
PUBLIC ROADS
LEADING TO THE INTERIOR
OF THE COLONY
ARE MEASURED FROM IT .
L.MACQUARIE, ESQ
GOVERNOR

Left Side Inscription

PRINCIPAL ROADS,
DISTANCE FROM SYDNEY }
TO BATHURST } 137 Miles
FROM SYDNEY TO WINDSOR 35½ D º
TO PARRAMATTA 15½ "
TO LIVERPOOL 20 "
TO MACQUARIE TOWER }
AT THE SOUTH HEAD } 7 "
TO THE NORTH HEAD }
OF BOTANY BAY } 14"